Device for severing filamentary material under a squeezing force

ABSTRACT

The severing roller is caused to roll on the support while also rotating during a severing operation. After severing, the roller and support are moved apart. The severing surface of the roll can thus be given a longer life. Drive means are provided to effect the translation movement of the roller. The support can be in the form of a resilient cam and can be moved into the path of the roller during severing to increase the severing forces.

United States Patent [191 Demuth DEVICE FOR SEVERING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL UNDER A SQUEEZING FORCE [75] Inventor: Hans Demuth,Winterthur,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Ltd., Winterthur,

Switzerland [22] Filed: June 4, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 366,524

[52] US. Cl 83/482, 83/485, 83/490,

83/508 [51] Int. Cl B23d 19/00, B26d 1/20 [58] Field of Search 83/433, 482, 483, 485, 7 83/490, 505-508 [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnstone et al 83/505 X Jan. 14, 1975 2,541,913 2/1951 Carter 83/506 X 2,664,950 1/1954 Morgan et a1. 83/482 3,041,907 7/1962 Gallagher, Jr. 83/482 Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Attorney, Agent, or FirmKenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57] ABSTRACT The severing roller is caused to roll on the support while also rotating during a severing operation. After severing, the roller and support are: moved apart. The severing surface of the roll can thus be given a longer life. Driv emeans are provided to effect the translation movement of the roller. The support can be in the form of a resilient cam and can be moved into the path of the roller during severing to increase the severing forces.

A 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 4|975 .1. 859 882 SHE! 10F 3 PATENTED JAN 1 4 I975 SHEET 2 BF 3 DEVICE FOR SEVERING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL UNDER A SQUEEZING FORCE This invention relates to a device for severing filamentary material, such as materials of filament, strip and wire form.

Heretofore, various types of severing or parting-off devices have been known for severing filamentary materials. For example, such devices have been used in weaving machines, such as a gripper shuttle weaving machine having weft packages located outside a shed during operation, to sever the weft ends. In one particular case, a device has been constructed of two rollers which run in continuous peripheral engagement with one another in order to sever a filament between the two rollers. In this case, one of the rollers has been provided with a drive so as to be reciprocated around itsown axis while the other roller is caused to move due to contact with the drive roller.

In another known construction, a severing roller has been reciprocated on a stationary support while being continuously pressed against the support by a spring. In this case, the filaments have been severed between the roller and support.

In these devices, the same zone of the periphery of the severing roller has always been used for the severing operation. Thus, the roller and, possibly the support, become blunt or worn relatively soon, particularly in this zone. I

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a severing device which has a relatively long useful life. v

It is another object of the invention to provide a filamentary severing device of simple construction.

Briefly, the invention provides a device for severing filamentary material having a support which defines a surface for abutting a filament, a severing roller which is able to roll on the support surface to sever a filament by squeezing, and a drive means for moving one of the support and roller in translation relative to the other. The drive means is connected to at least one of the support and roller and also serves to disengage the support and roller from each other after severing of a filament.

During a severing operation, a filament is positioned on the support surface and the roller is then brought to bear on the support surface. During this time, the roller rolls along the support surface to sever the filament. Thereafter, the roller and support are disengaged.

Because of the energy of rotation imparted to the roller during severance of the material, the roller continues to rotate between consecutive operations. The angle of rotation is, however, usually not constant. The roller therefore wears substantially uniformly over the whole periphery and as a result has a prolonged life. The motion for the severing operation can be devised so that the roller engages with the support virtually only for the actual severance or very shortly before severence. Since the material to be severed is, at this time, disposed between the roller and the support, wear of the parts is reduced very considerably.

The support, roller and drive are interconnected with each other and are synchronized to the machine in which the severing device is incorporated so as to effect severing at preset times. For example, when used in a weaving machine, the severing operation can be timed with the cadence of operation of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a severing device of the invention prior to severing of a weftthread in a gripper shuttle weaving machine;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1 of the severing device in a position of severing;

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified severing device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a cording to the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view in section corresponding to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a further modification of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rod 1 is mounted to reciprocate vertically in operation at the picking cadence of a weaving machine (not shown) to which the rod 1 is secured. The rod 1 carries an arm-like element 2 which, in turn, carriesa freely rotatable severing (i.e. squeezing) roller 3 as is known at the end. In addition, an adjustable eccentric 4 is secured to'the machine frame and mounts a pivoting member, such as a lever, 5 thereon. The lever 5 includes a guide groove 6 in which a pin 7, secured to the element 2, is guided. The groove 6 and pin 7 are related so that as the rod 1, elementZ and roller 3 reciprocate vertically, the lever 5 can pivot reciprocally around the fulcrum 9 of the eccentric 4.

A resilient spring arm 11 is formed on the lever 5 to act as a support for the roller 3 and has a curved flat cam surface 12 facing the roller 3.

When the parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the support has been pivoted back so that a weft yarn modified support ac- 13 can be picked into a shed (not shown) by means of a shuttle 14. Thereafter, the rod 1, element 2 and roller 3 rise so that the roller 3 and support surface 12 first move intothe chain-dotted positions 3a, of FIG. 2. In this position, the surface 12 is in a most forwards position with the yarn l3 abutting the surface 12 and with the pin 7 is position 7a. The roller 3 and pin 7 then rise further into positions 3b,7b. In this position, the roller 3 has engaged completely with the support surface 12 so that the yarn is severed therebetween by squeezing.

If required, the translational movement of the roller 3 can be such that the roller 3 rises farther than is shown in FIG. 2.

To assist in explanation, FIG. 2 shows a position 4a of the eccentric 4 which is provided, for instance, if a relatively larger pressure is required to be produced by the roller 3 and support surface 12. In such a case, the fulcrum of the lever 5 and support surface 12 is further to the left, as viewed, and so, the support surface 12 is pivoted further to the right.

If required, the eccentric 4 can be connected to a.

drive and be so controlled that, when the parts are in the inoperative positions shown in FIG. 1, the eccentric portion of eccentric 4 is to the right of the fulcrum 9, whereas in the severing position of FIG. 2, the eccentric portion is to the left of the fulcrum 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the element 2 carries a lever 16 which can pivot around a pivot 15 and on which the roller 3 is mounted. The end 17 of the lever 16 is biased by a compression spring 18 which tends to pivot the lever 16 so far around the pivot 15 that the lever 16 abuts an adjustable eccentric 22which is rotatable around a pivot pin 21 disposed on the element 2.

In this construction, the lever and support surface 12 are biased by a compression spring 23 which tends to press the lever 5 against the pin 7.

In FIG. 3, the parts are shown exactly in the severance position. After severance, the rod 1, element 2, roller 3 and pin 7 descend, roller 3 disengages from the support surface 12 and'the surface 12, due to the pin 7 engaging with a cam 25 on the lever 5' pivots counter-clockwise around the eccentric 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the support surface 12 has a V-shaped guide 26 in which the roller 3 engages. The guide 26 ensures that at severance, for instance, in FIG. 4, the weft yarn 13 does not move upwards.

In-all the embodiments, the roller 3 and support surface 12 are caused to move far enough away from one another by the'drive between consecutive severing op erations for the roller 3 tobe able to turn freely. Embodir'nents are possible wherein only oneof the roller 3 and support surface is moved relative to the other. If required, the support surface 12 can be moved in translation and not the roller 3, in which case, the roller is rotated around its own axis onlyby the movement of the support surface 12.

Referring to FIG. 6, the support surface 12 is flat while the roller 3 is mounted on an arm 27 which is pivotable around a pivot 29 in the direction indicated by a double arrow 28. Thus, the roller 3 can perform an appropriate motion as well as its own rotation.

The roller 3 and/or the support surface 12 can be made, e.g., of hard metal, or of any other suitable material.

The invention thus provides a severing device which can be used to sever various types of material in filament, strip or wire form. The device can also be used for severing foils, for example, of plastics and the like.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for severing filamentary material comprising a support defining a surface for abutting of a filament thereon;

a severing roller for rolling on said surface of said support to sever the filament thereon by squeezing; and I drive means connected to at least one of said support and said roller for moving said one of said support and said roller in translation relative to the other of said support and roller with disengagement of said support and roller from each other after severing of the filament.

2. A device as set forth in claim '1 wherein said support is a resilient arm defining said surface.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said roller is moved in translation relative to said surface and which further comprises a pivoting drive for pivoting said arm substantially perpendicularly to the path of translational movement of said roller.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said drive means includessaid pivoting drive therein whereby pivoting of said arm and movement of said roller in translation are synchronized.

5.. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said drive means includes an element mounting said roller thereon, a pivoting member mounting said support thereon, a groove in said pivoting member and a pin secured to said element and guided in said groove to couple said element with said pivoting member.

6. A device for severing material comprising a support defining a flat surface; a freely rotatable roller for rolling on said flat surface of said support to sever material therebetween by squeezing; and drive means connected to at least one of said support and said roller for moving said one of said support and said roller in translation relative to the other of said support and said roller with temporary disen-, gagement of said surface and said roller after severing of the material. 7. A device as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a spring for biasing said support surface and said roller UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EERTIMCATE 9F QQECTIQN O Patent No. 3,859,882 Dated January 14, 1975 Inventor) Hans Demuth It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Insert the priority particulars on the title page as follows:

-Switzerland 9178/72 June 19, l972.

gins and this fifth ay of August 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer ('ummissiuncr nflulenls and Trademark-x G 

1. A device for severing filamentary material comprising a support defining a surface for abutting of a filament thereon; a severing roller for rolling on said surface of said support to sever the filament thereon by squeezing; and drive means connected to at least one of said support and said roller for moving said one of said support and said roller in translation relative to the other of said support and roller with disengagement of said support and roller from each other after severing of the filament.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support is a resilient arm defining said surface.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said roller is moved in translation relative to said surface and which further comprises a pivoting drive for pivoting said arm substantially perpendicularly to the path of translational movement of said roller.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said drive means includes said pivoting drive therein whereby pivoting of said arm and movement of said roller in translation are synchronized.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said drive means includes an element mounting said roller thereon, a pivoting member mounting said support thereon, a groove in said pivoting member and a pin secured to said element and guided in said groove to couple said element with said pivoting member.
 6. A device for severing material comprising a support defining a flat surface; a freely rotatable roller for rolling on said flat surface of said support to sever material therebetween by squeezing; and drive means connected to at least one of said support and said roller for moving said one of said support and said roller in translation relative to the other of said support and said roller with temporary disengagement of said surface and said roller after severing of the material.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a spring for biasing said support surface and said roller together. 